The Angels are hot winners of seven of their last eight games and while they are 12 games out of first place in the AL West they have the 2nd AL Wild Card ½ game up on the Kansas City Royals. L.A. is led by their pitching and in their last eight games they have only given up 21 runs. The Orioles have lost two in a row and three of their last four games and are tied with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Rays in the basement of the AL East 10.5 games out of first place. However, they are only three games out of the AL Wild Card. After a great first start for the Orioles Hellickson has not impressed in his last two outings and was lit up in his last one. The Angels will knock him around tonight while Heaney will have a good outing in his first start since 2015. The Angels will stay hot winning this game and sending the Orioles to their 4th loss in their last five games.

The Phillies have lost four in a row and six of their last seven games. They are coming off being swept in a three-game series against the Padres where they were outscored 18-8. Philadelphia has the worst record and fewest road wins in the Majors. The Giants have lost three of their last four games where their pitching has been less than stellar giving up a total of 24 runs in the three losses. They have the 2nd fewest wins in the Majors. Aaron Nola has been one of the bright sports for the Phillies this season and he has one loss and two no decisions in his last three road starts where he has not gotten much run support. He will have another good outing and while he will not get a lot of run support he will get a few runs and that is all he will need. The Phillies will win this game snapping their four-game skid and handing the Giants their 4th loss in their last five games.

The Nationals had won two in a row before their loss to the Angels in their last game, but they have still won five of their last seven games. They have the 2nd best record in the NL and are running away with the NL East with a 13.5 game lead over the Miami Marlins. Washington has had solid pitching as of late and have needed it with a slumping lineup that has only totaled 19 runs in their last six games. The Padres have won three in a row coming off a sweep of the Phillies where they outscored them 18-8. They are out of the playoff picture 31.5, but they have won eight of their last 10 home games. Jackson has been pretty good in his 2nd stint with the Nationals and he will have a decent start tonight. However, Chacin will have a better one and the Padres will win his 5th straight home start in the first game of this NL series tonight.

After winning eight in a row the Cardinals have lost their last two games where they have been outscored 16-7. They are tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for 2nd place in the tight NL Central race 1.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs. Winning the division is their best shot at the playoffs, as St. Louis is five games out of the NL Wild Card. The Red Sox have won three of their last four and 11 of their last 13 games. They are in first place in the AL East 4.5 games up on the New York Yankees. Both pitcher’s in tonight’s contest are coming off good last starts, but have to go with the Red Sox in this game since they are at home. Boston has won five of Rodriguez’s last six home games and Lynn’s road ERA is a run higher on the road than at home. The Red Sox will take this game and send the Cardinals to their 3rd straight loss.

The Yankees won the first two games of this home-and-home series in their house outscoring the Mets 9-6. They have won three of their last five games overall and are 4.5 games out of first place in the AL East, but hold the top NL Wild Card three games up on the L.A. Angels. The Mets have lost three of their last four games and they are out of the playoff picture 14.5 games out of first place in the NL East and well out of the Wild Card. Garcia has not been great in his two starts for the Yankees, but he will be facing a Mets lineup that has only scored six runs in their last two games. Gsellman will be making his first start in nearly a month and a half and while he was not sharp at all in his last three outings he is now healthy. I think he will have a good outing tonight at home and lead the Mets to a win.

The Tigers have lost two in a row and four of their last five games and are 12 games out of first place in the AL Central and 7.5 games out of the Wild Card. They have only totaled six runs in losing their last three games. The Rangers have won four of their last five games and while they are out of the AL West race they are only three games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. Texas’ pitching has been very solid as of late only giving up a total of 12 runs in their last five games. While the Tigers have not had much success on the road this season with Verlander on the hill they did win his last road start. He got the better of Griffin and the Rangers in May and he will do so again in this game. Verlander has not given up any earned runs in two of his last three starts and he will shut down the Texas lineup tonight. On the other side of the coin Griffin will struggle and the Tigers will take the 2nd game of this series tonight.

After a stretch of winning five of six games the Pirates have lost their last two games. While they are in 4th place in the NL Central they are only 4.5 games out of first place. The lineup has been the issue this season in Pittsburgh and they have only totaled three runs in losing their last two games. The Brewers have won their last two games after a six-game losing streak. They are only 2.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. This one is a tough call since both pitchers are coming off less than stellar outings. Have to go with the Brewers since they are at home and Nova has really struggled since the All Star break. Milwaukee will win this game for their 3rd win in a row sending Pittsburgh to their 3rd loss in a row.

The Rays have lost five of their last six games including their last three. They only scored three runs in the last three games of their four-game series with the Indians and Tampa Bay has scored the fewest runs in the Majors since the All-Star break. While they are nine games back of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East they are only two games out of the Wild Card. The Blue Jays have won three of their last four games including their last two. The reason they have been winning has been their pitching, as in the last four games they have given up only seven runs and four runs in the one loss. They are in last place in the AL East, but only four games out of the Wild Card. Odorizzi was pretty good in his short last start and while he has not sharp in his last start against the Blue Jays he will have a good outing tonight. On the other side of the coin Tepesch will struggle again for his new club. The Rays will take this game, snap their three-game skid, and they will move to .500 on the season.

The Indians have won their last three games where their pitching has been superb only allowing three runs with all of them coming in their last game. They are in first place in the AL Central 4,5 games up on the Minnesota Twins and five games up on the Kansas City Royals. Boston is red hot, as they have won their last two games, 10 of their last 11, and they have won their last six home games. They have opened up a 5.5 game lead over the New York Yankees in the AL East. In their last 10 games they have only given up five or more runs four times and they won three of those games. The Red Sox won the first two games of this series before the 3rd game was postponed. They have had to wait a while for the chance for the sweep, which they will not get. Bauer has been great in his last three starts and he will tame the Red Sox bats tonight. Fister will not get shelled, but will give up a few runs and the Tribe will take this game and win their 4th in a row.

These teams have split the two games of this series and this game is the rubber game. The Cubs have lost three of their last four games and they are now tied atop the NL Central with the St. Louis Cardinals, who have won eight in a row. Chicago has only totaled six runs in the three losses in their last four games while scoring eight in the one win. The Diamondbacks had lost three in a row before beating the Cubs in Game 2 of this series yesterday. They gave up 19 runs in their three-game skid before only allowing two in yesterday’s win. Arizona is out of the NL West race 17 games out of first place, but they are tied with the Rockies atop the NL Wild Card 4.5 games up on the Cubs and Cardinals. Godley out-dueled Arrieta on August 2nd in the Windy City and Arrieta will return the favor in this game. He will have the better outing and lead the Cubs to a win in this series finale.

The Royals snapped their five game losing streak with their win over the White Sox in Game 2 of this series. They are in 3rd place in the AL Central five games back of the Cleveland Indians and are one game out of the Wild Card. Kansas City’s pitching was hammered in their five-game skid where they gave up 43 runs. The White Sox had their four-game winning streak snapped with the loss to the Royals yesterday. Chicago has the fewest wins in the AL and the 2nd fewest wins in the Majors. However, they have won four of their last five home games.

Vargas has not been sharp as of late and only has one win in his last six starts. However, he has pitched well in his last two starts against the White Sox and he will have a good outing in this game. On the other side of the coin Holland will struggle yet again. The KC lineup will get to him in this series finale and the Royals will win and go over .500 in the process.

The Angels have won four in a row and they have scored six runs in each of the two wins of this series. They are tied with the Mariners for 2nd place in the AL West 13 games out of first place and they are both ½ game out of the 2nd Wild Card. The Mariners had won two in a row before losing the first two games of this series. Seattle has lost 16 of their last 23 home games. This game is a battle of the Ramirez’s and neither is coming off a good last outing. Erasmo has not looked good in his short stint with the Mariners and he will struggle again tonight facing an Angels’ lineup that has totaled 20 runs in their four-game winning streak. On the other side of the coin JC will bounce back and have a good outing. The Angels have won six of JC’s last eight road starts and that trend will continue, as they will win, extend their streak to five games, and go for the series sweep tomorrow.

The Twins are red hot winners of six in a row and they have climbed into 2nd place in the AL Central 3.5 games out of first place and own the 2nd AL Wild Card. Their lineup has been getting it done in the streak totaling 42 runs in the six wins. The Tigers have lost their last two games and four of their last six and they are in 4th place in the AL Central 10 games back of the Cleveland Indians and 6.5 games out of the Wild Card. They have given up 16 runs in losing their last two games. Berrios did not have a good last start and while he may not have a great one tonight the Minnesota lineup will be the difference maker. They have been solid as of late and they will tee off on Zimmerman, who has given up 10 earned runs to Minnesota in the two starts against them this season. The Twins will get the win, which will be their 6th in a row and send the Tigers to their 3rd straight loss.

The Astros have the best record in the AL, but they have lost four of their last five games and are coming off being swept in a three-game series against the Chicago White Sox, who have the worst record in the AL. They are the highest scoring team in the Majors, but have only totaled eight runs in losing three in a row. Houston is in first place in the AL West with a comfortable 13-game lead over the Seattle Mariners. The Rangers had lost two in a row before a win in their last game. While they are five games under .500 and out of the AL West race they are only 3.5 games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. The Rangers have to be the pick in this game not only because they are struggling, but because they are facing Hamels. He is coming off a complete game gem in his last outing and the Rangers have won his last four starts against the Astros. Texas will win the first game of this series and send the slumping Astros to their 4th straight loss.

The Indians are in a slump, as they have lost two in a row and four of their last five games. They are still in first place in the AL Central 3.5 games up on the Minnesota Twins and four games up on the Kansas City Royals. Cleveland traded for New York Mets OF Jay Bruce (.256 29 HR 75 RBI) and they hope he can help a lineup that has only totaled nine runs in their last five games. The Rays had lost two in a row before winning the first game of this series and they are in 3rd place in the AL East seven games back of the Boston Red Sox and they are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the 2nd Wild Card. Not sure why the Indians are the favorite in this game, as they are struggling and Carrasco has given up five earned runs in each of his last two starts. Faria has been pitching well and he will have another strong outing tonight and the Rays will take the 2nd game of this four-game set tonight.

The Orioles got back to .500 winning three in a row, but they have lost their last two games. They are nine games out of first place in the AL East, but only 2.5 games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. After totaling 23 runs in winning three in a row the Orioles have only totaled three runs in losing their last two games. The A's have lost two in a row and four of their last five games and they are in the basement of the AL West and well out of the playoff race. While they have scored nine runs in their last two games they have given up 13. Miley has been pretty decent in his last couple of outings, but I don't see that continuing tonight. Smith will get the better of him and Oakland's lineup will help him out, as the A's will take the first game of this series, snap their two-game skid, and send the Orioles to their 3rd loss in a row.

The Yankees have won two of their last three games and in the wins they totaled 19 runs and only two in the loss. They are in 2nd place in the AL East four games back of the Boston Red Sox, but have the top AL Wild Card 2.5 games up on the Seattle Mariners. The Blue Jays have lost three of their last five games and while they are in the basement of the AL East 11.5 games out of first place they are still in the Wild Card race five games out of the 2nd spot. Gray was decent in his first outing for the Yankees and he will have a better outing tonight. Estrada has not been sharp in his last two outings facing the Yankees and he will struggle again facing them in this game. Gray will be the star in this one leading New York to the win.

The Pirates have won three in a row and five of their last six games and while in 4th place in the NL Central they are still only 3.5 games out of first place. They took the two home games of this home-and-home series against the Tigers only giving up a total of three runs. The Tigers have lost four in a row and they 10 games out of first place in the AL Central and six games out of the Wild Card. While the lineup is the strength of the team they have only totaled eight runs in their four-game skid. This is a tough call with both pitchers coming off solid outings. Verlander has been great in his career in interleague play and while I don’t see a lot of runs being scored he will out-duel Nova. Detroit will take this game and snap their four-game slid and end the Pirates three-game winning streak.

The Red Sox are red hot winners of seven straight games and they are in first place in the AL East four games up on the New York Yankees and 6.5 games up on the Rays. While in the first three games of their streak they won with their lineup their pitching has been the main reason for the last four wins where they have only given up a total of six runs. The Rays have lost three of their last four games and in the three losses they were shut out each time. Tampa Bay is tied with the Kansas City Royals and the Seattle Mariners for the 2nd AL Wild Card. Porcello has not been that sharp as of late, but did have a great last start against the Rays despite a Boston loss. On the other side of the coin Odorizzi was shelled in his last start facing the Red Sox. He will not get shelled in this outing, but won’t have a great one and Porcelllo will get the better of him. The Red Sox will win this game and their 8th in row.

After winning three in a row the Brewers have dropped tow straight where they only totaled five runs. They are in 2nd place in the NL Central 1.5 games back of the Chicago Cubs and they are 5.5 games back of the 2nd NL Wild Card. The Twins have won two in a row and three of their last four games and they sit in 3rd place in the AL Central and are 2.5 games out of the 2nd AL Wild Card. Garza has been pitching well as of late not giving up more than two runs in any of his last five starts, but has not received much help from the offense. That will change in this game, as the Milwaukee lineup will tag up Mejia for his 2nd straight poor outing. The Brew Crew will get the win in this game snapping their two game skid and ending the Twins two-game winning streak.